5 Tips to Prepare Your Car for Spring for Best Usage

Spring must be approaching because the days are growing longer, and the temperature is gradually rising. Now that the worst of the winter weather is behind us, it’s the ideal time to keep up with your car’s maintenance and prepare your car for spring and summer. Additionally, the growing trend of summertime staycations provides one more reason to get your car in top shape.

You should think twice if you believe that just because you survived the winter without any major issues, your car does not require any modifications or additions.

Although driving is more pleasant during the warmer months, you should check to make sure your car is still in working order to prevent any potential problems.

There is the possibility that the cold weather damaged some of your car’s parts, which means you need to fix them right away.

You can better understand your car by following these 5 springtime car maintenance tips.

Get a Professional Car Wash

Sand, salt, moisture and more get on your carpets, upholstery, paint, wheels, and windows in the winter. With the first signs of spring, it’s a good time to wash off all the dirt. There are many reasons to give a car a special wash. Especially in spring, a professional car wash using car wash cloths, car wash brushes, and car wash shampoos is necessary to free the vehicle from all residues that could damage the bodywork. A good and thorough cleaning also restores the car to its radiant good looks and reduces rust formation to prolong the life of the car. With a high-gloss finish and no rust to mar its good looks, a car’s resale value is even higher. Finally, motorists who regularly take their cars to the car wash also save money on expensive repairs.

Get Your Tires Checked

Tires are the only point of contact between your car and the ground, and as such, they have an impact on handling, braking, and acceleration.

Use this opportunity to visually inspect each of your tires, making sure there are no obvious bulges or damage. Legally, the tread on each of them must be at least 1.6 mm. You must check the tire pressure and adjust it according to the season, but you should also inspect the tires using tire check accessories to look for any signs of premature wear or tear inside the tires or along the sides.

Any early indications of tire damage can either prevent catastrophic events or cause serious auto accidents. Did you know that the condition of the tires may also be a sign of other car issues?

For example, if the suspension system or steering wheel performance is faulty, you may see unequal tire wear and tear across the four tires or two on the same axle. Consequently, you shouldn’t stop here and should not limit your attention to simply replacing one tire if you detect anything strange about the tires.

Test Your Car’s Battery

Check and clean your battery if necessary. Make sure the battery terminals and connections are tight and free from corrosion. Clean contacts if white corrosive deposits have formed. Use a stiff toothbrush and a mixture of baking soda and water to remove them.

Spark plugs light up to 3 million times per 1,000 miles. This is a lot of heat and wears in the form of electrical and chemical erosion. Dirty spark plugs cause misfires, resulting in wasted fuel. If you are planning a long trip, consider replacing the battery and spark plugs if they are more than two years old. Have your battery checked for free at your local auto parts store to make sure it still has enough charge.

Examine Your A/C and Windshield Wiper

Salt, sand, and harsh chemicals also get on your windshield all winter long, forcing your trusty wiper blades to work overtime. But all of these things can degrade the soft, rubbery material that makes up the edges of your blade, which will eventually lead to banding, skipping, and generally poor performance.

Your car windshield wipers work hard all winter, removing dirt and debris, including salt spray. Since the life of a wiper blade is six months to a year, check that the blades are in good contact with the windshield and that they have not dried out. Don’t wait for a torrential spring or summer rain to find out that your blades aren’t working properly. Also, fill the washer fluid reservoir. If you’re feeling these symptoms after a harsh winter, it’s time for a change.

Top Off All Your Vehicle’s Fluids

After the winter, you need to check for essential maintenance of your car, such as using the best car fluid for an oil change. Even if your vehicle isn’t due for an oil change, it doesn’t hurt to be initiative-taking and change the winter oil if the following oil change is coming up very soon.

This one is simple if you have car exterior accessories but just as important: Make sure your vehicle’s fluids are topped up. This includes engine oil, brake fluid, coolant, and washer fluid.

You should adjust the viscosity of your oil if you live somewhere with exceptionally cold winters. During the summer, switching to a heavier-weight oil will enhance performance. To maintain performance, you should also change your oil weight if you live somewhere with hot summers. Of course, you should change your filter at the same time as your oil.

Final Thoughts

The arrival of spring makes it the ideal time to learn how to prepare your car for spring. This article has given you 5 straightforward suggestions for preparing your car for the spring driving season and resolving any issues it may have encountered over the winter.

If you discover that your car needs a lot of work, now might be a good time to consider whether you should sell it and buy a better car that will last you the entire spring season with no problems.